"I need to take tips" - When Gautam Gambhir was highly impressed by a KKR teammate's six-hitting ability
Former Team India batter and current head coach Gautam Gambhir had a memorable stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He represented the franchise from 2011 to 2017 and also led them to two title triumphs in 2012 and 2014. Gambhir later returned as a mentor to guide KKR to their third IPL win in 2024.
Incidentally, it was under the former India cricketer's leadership that Sunil Narine first displayed his abilities as a match-winning, initially as a mystery spinner and later as a big hitter with the willow in hand. Narine opened the batting for KKR in the IPL for the first time during the 2017 edition in a match against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The left-handed batter smacked 37 off 18 balls as KKR chased down a target of 171 with eight wickets in hand. Speaking after the game, Gambhir termed the West Indies cricketer as a luxury to have in the team and also expressed admiration over his six-hitting ability. He told iplt20.com:
"A lot of them underestimate Sunil's batting prowess. Having Sunil in the side is always a luxury with his quality of bowling and as someone who can hit the big ball."
"With Narine on the other side, I knew there was someone who is going to go hard at the bowlers and score runs at will, that too, at each and every delivery. Some of the batsmen should be really proud of the way he batted. Look at some of the shots he played; I need to take tips from Narine to hit big sixes," the former Kolkata Knight Riders captain had added.
On the other hand, Narine commented that he loved batting with Gambhir at the top of the innings, asserting that he was given the freedom to express himself.
Sunil Narine's stats for KKR
Narine is the leading wicket-taker for the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise. In 186 matches, he has claimed 198 wickets at an average of 23.93 and an economy rate of 6.65, with eight four-fers and one five-fer. His best of 5-19 was registered against Punjab Kings in Kolkata in April 2012.
With the bat in hand, the 36-year-old has scored 1,535 runs at an average of 17.05 and an excellent strike rate of 165.40, with one hundred and seven fifties. His best of 109 came off 56 balls against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Kolkata in IPL 2024. The knock featuring 13 fours and six sixes, however, went in vain as RR chased down 224 courtesy of Jos Buttler 107* off 60.